Hardware for Scanning

2) A laser that has consistent thickness through the line without bleeding, as close to 100% vertical as possible, and is held as still as possible during the scan.

3) A mobile device with a good quality camera and a holder for your mobile device that will keep your mobile device in position while pressing various buttons on the screen.

4) An easy way and accurate way to get the angle measurement mentioned above.

During development of the Moedls app, that hardware proved incredibly difficult to find, and I ended up wasting a lot of money buying hardware that seemed like it should work, but didn't.

The Solution: The Moedls Hardware Platform

The Moedls Hardware Platform is a hardware project consisting of a number of custom designed and built parts. The first is a custom built rotating platform designed to be as smooth spinning as a vinyl turntable, with guide markers for aligning the camera and laser, and a built-in easy and accurate angle measurement:

Moedls Rotating Platform Prototype

The prototype shown above is 10" wide plastic with some MDF parts, but the final version is 9" wide anodized aluminum with a non-reflective reversible top. (The opposite side is solid black.)

The Moedls Rotating platform comes with an external power supply and switch so you won't accidentally jostle the platform out of alignment when you turn it on or off.

Each laser comes in a custom enclosure with a 2.1mm power plug (as well as an external 2-AA battery power supply with on/off switch) so that turning it on/off won't change your laser alignment. The laser enclosure also has a standard tripod mount underneath. Here's a picture of the prototype laser enclosure and power supply with switch:

Moedls Laser, enclosure, and power supply.

The final laser enclosures will be black.

I've designed a custom mobile device holder (for devices between 2 and 4 inches wide) that grips your device tightly so it stays aligned with the platform, and comes with a standard tripod mount underneath as well.

Moedls Mobile Phone Holder

Since you'll want to adjust the camera position to the size of the object you're scanning, I've also custom designed a suction cup tripod mount with specially designed arms to make adjusting the laser and device to their best angles and positions easy. Here's the current prototype (final version will be made of plastic since the weight of the metal makes the suction cup less efficient):

Moedls Suction Cup Tripod Mount Prototype

Current Status:

All the prototypes are working well, and I've been tweaking the designs with the help of my manufacturer. Unfortunately, I'm almost to the point where large deposits are needed to build the molds, (almost $20k altogether) and this is where I need your help. I definitely can't do it without backers!

Once the molds are made, the factories still require MOQ's (Minimum Order Quantity) for each part, and this is what really drives up the goal amount, since I can't make a single complete unit without making a whole bunch of them.

With your help, we can make the Moedls Hardware Platform a reality!

The Reward Levels

There are 3 basic reward levels, with a limited 'Early backer/shipper' version and a regular version. The only differences between the 3 basic reward levels is the number, color and quality of the lasers; green lasers are more expensive than the red lasers, and the Pro lenses cost much more the standard lenses to produce, and that is reflected in the reward amount.

Every $50 and up reward level will also receive a zombie shooter cup, made from a scan of the head you see in the video, with the top of the head hollowed out. (Brains not included!)

Risks and challenges

I've already overcome the biggest challenge, in writing the Moedls app and proving the software concept, prototyping the parts, and finding manufacturers to build the final prototypes and go into production.

The only real challenge left is in tweaking the final prototypes, producing packaging, and coordinating the production schedule with the various manufacturers. To overcome this, I've established a relationship with one of the manufacturers to receive the various pieces, fix obvious issues, forward prototypes to me for evaluation, and help with the packaging design. When production begins, they'll package them individually, and send them to me in batches.

Since I'll need to sell quite a few to reach my goal, I've partnered with a small fulfillment company to make sure everything ships out smoothly.

I've set reward deadlines based on worst case scenario instead of best case, so that should minimize the possibility of shipping later than specified.

Kickstarter is not a store.

Pledge $2,000 or more
About $2,000

Meet the team for a pre-launch lunch in the Silicon Valley, where we'll shoot some pool, discuss upcoming features being added to Moedls, and give you your custom engraved Professional Scanner reward a month before the rest are shipped out!